Cyclones Top Northern Iowa, 88-69

AMES, Iowa (AP) - Jake Sullivan led Iowa State with a career-high 26 points as the Cyclones beat Northern Iowa 88-69 Saturday.

Tyray Pearson scored 17 points for the Cyclones and Marcus Jefferson added 15 more. Shane Power and Omar Bynum each scored 12 points as Iowa State salvaged its first victory of the season against an intrastate rival. The Cyclones lost to No. 9 Iowa and to Drake in previous intrastate games this season.

Iowa State improved to 7-6 by outscoring Northern Iowa 25-6 during the last six minutes of the game. The Cyclones were 17 of 27 from the field in the second half.

Northern Iowa, which fell to 6-4, failed to make a field goal in the last 6:30 after a three-pointer by Erik Smith tied the game at 63-63. The Panthers missed their last five shots from the field and made just six out 10 free throws down the stretch.

Iowa State led through much of the first half. Northern Iowa battled back to take a three-point lead before a basket by Sullivan and two free throws by Jared Homan gave the Cyclones a 35-33 edge at intermission.

David Gruber led the Panthers in scoring with 23 points. Robbie Sieverding added 22, including 15 in the first half.

Aaron Middendorf's basket with 16:48 to play gave the Panthers a 40-39 second-half lead. They extended their advantage to 42-39 on a basket by Smith, but Iowa State answered with five points from Pearson, including a three-point play with 15:26 to play that put the Cyclones ahead for good, 44-42.

Iowa State hosts Morris Brown Monday night. Northern Iowa hosts Drake on Jan. 2.

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Players Mentioned

Omar Bynum

Omar Bynum

Jared Homan

Marcus Jefferson

Marcus Jefferson

Tyray Pearson

Tyray Pearson

Shane Power

Shane Power

Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan

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